Twins Pitcher Pablo López Ends Bullpen Session Early Due to Elbow Soreness

The 30-year-old All-Star is considered a key part of the Twins' rotation.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Minnesota Twins right-handed pitcher Pablo López ended a bullpen session early on Monday due to what manager Derek Shelton described as 'a little bit of elbow soreness.' López, who has been the Twins' opening day starter for the past three seasons, was considered ahead of schedule in his preparations to join Venezuela's team for the World Baseball Classic.

Why it matters

López has been a consistent and productive starter for the Twins, making 32 starts in each of the past three seasons. Any injury concerns around him could have a significant impact on the team's pitching rotation and playoff hopes for the upcoming season.

The details

López, who turns 30 next month, threw two-plus innings before shutting down the bullpen session. The Twins decided to take a cautious approach, removing López from the field to get imaging done on his elbow. López was limited to just 75 2/3 innings last season due to various injuries, including issues with his hamstring, shoulder, and forearm.

  • On Monday, López ended his bullpen session early due to elbow soreness.

The players

Pablo López

A 30-year-old right-handed pitcher who has been the opening day starter for the Minnesota Twins for the past three seasons.

Derek Shelton

The manager of the Minnesota Twins.

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What they’re saying

“We decided, out of an abundance of caution, let's get him off, let's get him off the field and make sure he's OK. We'll get some imaging on it, just because of how important it is and he is to us.”

— Derek Shelton, Manager (Houston Chronicle)

What’s next

The Twins will get imaging done on López's elbow to determine the extent of the soreness and whether it will impact his availability for the start of the season or his participation in the World Baseball Classic.

The takeaway

This injury scare for Pablo López highlights the importance of the Twins' starting rotation and the team's need to carefully manage their star pitcher's health heading into the new season. Any extended absence for López could be a significant blow to the Twins' playoff aspirations.